The Orphans' Promise Read Online Free PDF

with a red tunic, a thick rope as a belt, and laced shoes. A partially open novice’s robe covered the whole outfit. And most notably, the sinister dagger, the
hati
, easily recognizable in its crimson sheath.
    All of the red killers they had ever encountered were bald, but Rey had no desire to take the costume that far. He had simply pulled back his thick blond locks in a ponytail and pulled up the hood of the novice’s robe. Even his face disappeared in the shadow.
    The effect was striking. Just the sight of the costume gave Léti a ferocious, even animal desire for savagery.
    “Where did you get that?” asked Corenn.
    “Off a Zü’s back. The one who was waiting for me at Mess’s house, to be exact. Obviously, I sort of had to kill him before he let me take it.”
    Someone let out a scream of terror, and the heirs turned toward Raji. The smuggler was attempting to flee but found the stairway blocked by the donkey. The poor animal had no choice but to leap down the stairs four steps at a time to avoid falling.
    Soon Raji was out of view, and they could only hear his frightful screams becoming more distant. Grigán sighed before dashing off in pursuit, like a cat chasing a mouse, showing his exasperation with a few choice obscenities. Yan would not have liked to be in the little man’s place.
    They waited a few moments for the warrior’s return. Rey tried, unsuccessfully, to get a laugh out of his companions with a series of cruel, bloodthirsty scowls. He changed register and squeezed a grin out of Léti as he mimicked a stupid-looking Zü drooling like a toad.
    Grigán returned soon after, prodding Raji forward with one hand while holding his broadsword in the other. The little smuggler was so pale that they could almost see his tongue through his cheeks. “I suggest we either lock him up or get out of here,” the warrior shouted. “I’ve had enough of this.”
    “Go ahead and leave, please…” murmured Raji.
    “Confining our host is not an option,” Corenn asserted. “My lord, Raji was just surprised by Reyan’s disguise, isn’t that right?”
    “Well… the Züu are quite ruthless, you know? I wouldn’t want them to come sticking their noses around here…”
    “That won’t happen,” Grigán declared, handing him back his broadsword. “So long as you hold your tongue.”
    “It’s true,” Corenn added. “At this point you would be considered our accomplice if they came to find out where we are…”
    “Oh, my… oh my…”
    The little man took his head in his hands and paced around aimlessly. The calm universe he had built for himself had just come tumbling down.
    “Fortunately, we will be gone from here before the eighth day of the dékade. You’ve saved our life, my lord Raji.”
    Raji stared at the Mother, shrugged his shoulders, and with a dispirited air began loading the donkey with his pile of goods.
    Yan admired the way Corenn had just assured Raji’s loyalty. The art of diplomacy could really be more effective than force. He had been convinced of it for some time, but it was always nice to see it in action.
    All attention fell back on Rey. He had prepared an army of arguments to convince Grigán that his disguise had merits, but he didn’t have to use them. The warrior made no comment. This visit to Lorelia, to their enemies, was surely dangerous. So if the outfit could help keep bystanders at a distance, it would be perfect. Of course it would be a completely different matter if they were to end up face-to-face with the genuine red killers. Such an encounter was destined to end in a fight.
    When Raji finally grasped that the strangers planned to accompany him in the underground tunnel, he only emitted a weak protest, more like a whine. Then he set off into the tunnel, pulling his donkey by the reins and sadly shaking his head. Rey grabbed a torch and followed after him, while Grigán brought up the rear.
    With each step the actor felt the wicked dagger pounding against his